A lawman of diverse responsibilities

CHP leader says agency is committed to helping weaken criminal grip on area

STOCKTON - Capt. Rob Patrick, 48, is the commander for the California Highway Patrol's Stockton office and has been an active member of the agency for 27 years.

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By Jordan Guinn

recordnet.com

By Jordan Guinn

Posted Nov. 6, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By Jordan Guinn

Posted Nov. 6, 2012 at 12:01 AM

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STOCKTON - Capt. Rob Patrick, 48, is the commander for the California Highway Patrol's Stockton office and has been an active member of the agency for 27 years.

Patrick was a supervisor at the Delta Regional Auto Theft Task force from 1989 to 1991 and an original member of the group. Before working in Stockton, he was the Special Services Commander of the Valley Division. That position saw him oversee task forces, commercial operations, canine units and aviation patrols in 14 of the state's 58 counties.

He's worked as Stockton's commander on an interim basis since February and became assigned to the position full time in July.

He has three grown children and enjoys deer hunting, fishing, golfing and being outdoors.

Patrick talks about his position, duties and the future of the department.

Question: What are your main responsibilities?

Answer: We as a department have diverse responsibilities so it builds off that. We conduct speed enforcement and look over school zones and also deal with violent crime. One of our people could be handling a call for a disabled vehicle in Woodbridge in the morning and then work traffic control on a homicide in Stockton next. I'm in charge of coordinating those efforts. We also do a lot of community meetings on topics such as roadway safety and public safety. The Stockton CHP's jurisdiction is most of San Joaquin County, except for a southwestern portion looked after by the Tracy office.

Q: How many people are in your department?

A: There are about 50 sworn officers, along with 30 dispatchers and 15 support staff who do clerical work.

Q: How does your current staff level compare to previous years?

A: At one time this post had almost 80 sworn officers. Retirements and attrition have hit us in recent years. We haven't laid anyone off, but we have positions that were left vacant after someone retired. Of course, there are also people who transfer, but transfers generally tend to be a wash over time.

Q: How does the cost of gas affect the local operation?

A: The beauty of being part of a statewide organization is that we can draw from a larger pool of resources. Gas isn't something our specific office has to budget for. The people in Fleet Operations in West Sacramento deal with that so it doesn't come out of our pocket. However, they monitor - as do we - what is being delivered and what is being used out here. So they would know if we're burning through gas faster than we should and would ask us what's going on.

What does come out of our local budget are the costs for repairs. We take care of our equipment because we realize it will cost us more in the long run if we don't.

Q: You were arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in 2011 after a single-vehicle crash. What lessons have you learned since then?

A: There is no justification or excuse for what happened. It is not a mistake I would make again.

Q: A complaint by the public is the CHP spends too much time and resources looking for drivers who are intoxicated. How would you respond to critics who say someone with a DUI arrest in his background shouldn't be a leader in the department?

A: The critical importance of the California Highway Patrol mission - to include a focus on removing impaired drivers from the road - is paramount to the safety of the people of our state.

With respect to critics who may have concerns about my qualifications for the assignment, I have a long-standing record of leadership and exemplary service to the people of California. I am confident the determining factor for the people of San Joaquin County will be how effectively the Stockton area serves our community. I hope they will evaluate my performance as the commander based on that, rather than focus on the past.

Q: How do you characterize enforcing the law in a county where various agencies from the police to the district attorney's office have been reduced by budget cuts?

A: What you see out here is one of the best regional approaches to law enforcement. There aren't territorial issues out here. People in law enforcement aren't saying to one another, "Well, that's your problem."

I'm talking with (San Joaquin County Sheriff) Steve Moore and (Stockton Police Chief) Eric Jones on a weekly - if not daily - basis. We're always looking for ways to assist them. You saw that this summer during the police department's missions to crack down on violent crime and with our new partnership with Stockton police.

This isn't the 1950s or '60s anymore. Law enforcement agencies out here don't say to one another, "Sorry, not in our jurisdiction."

Q: How are patrol cars different from when you started with the department?

A: There's more in them. There are computers, video cameras and ballistic paneling in some. Before it was just a steering wheel and a radio. Part of the issue as time has gone on is dealing with the increased weight the car is carrying around. That's something the Fleet Operations division of the CHP has been looking at as it decides which vehicles to purchase.

Q: What is the status of the Stockton CHP's motor pool?

A: Right now we use the Ford Crown Victorias. However, those are no longer made and the ones we have are going to need to be replaced in the coming years. The state budget hasn't allowed the CHP to purchase new cars, but they will be buying Ford Taurus sedans and Ford SUVs in the future. They will be phased in across the state as budgets allow. The Stockton CHP will be getting the SUVs. We just don't know when.

Q: What is something you are proud of this specific division for accomplishing?

A: The efficiency and results. In 2011, the Stockton CHP accounted for 6 percent of all the felony arrests the agency as a whole produced. It shows just how active these officers are.

Q: What is your office's biggest need?

A: If you ask anyone in law enforcement that question, they're going to say they need more people. More people provides more flexibility. Although finances across the state are tight, I assure you the CHP hierarchy is fully familiar with the issues we are dealing with down here. Locally, we're setting up an explorer program to recruit new officers and have been targeting the local criminal justice programs.